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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
CONTROVERSIAL Caps United striker Rodrick Mutuma faces heavy Zifa and Fifa sanctions even before the season starts after violating standing Fifa statutes when he revealed a message emblazoned on a T-shirt he wore underneath his jersey after the Bob91 final match against Dynamos on Sunday.
The message read “Mboko Imboko”(A fool is a fool).
DeMbare won the match 1-0 through a Ronald Chitiyo first half wonder goal.
Zifa said while they remain guided by the match commissioner’s report, what the player did was not allowed in football and once the commissioner of the day notes it in his report, the player would definitely face disciplinary action.
“Zifa hasn’t seen the match commissioner’s report and therefore can’t act for now but may I reiterate that his actions aren’t being condoned by the association. If the report of the commissioner has that, then action will certainly be taken,” said the Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela.
Football’s law making body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), announced the changes after its 128th annual general meeting which was held in Zurich, Switzerland on March 1, 2014.
“From now on there can be no slogan or image whatsoever on undergarments even good-natured ones. This will apply from June 1, 2014 and be in force for the World Cup,” Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke told a news conference after the IFAB meeting in March last year.
Valcke then informed all member associations of the new rule in May of the same year through circular number 1419.
Following the new rule, former Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu immediately stopped wearing his shirts that had religious messages.
Jonathan Ford, chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, said some IFAB members did consider whether an outright ban would be “a little bit churlish.”
He was quoted then: “Everyone agreed about political or religious statements but on personal statements some of us did consider how far we’re going. We decided however it was easier for us to say it has no place in the game.”
Referees will not, however, book players who display messages – disciplinary action will be down to competition organisers after the match.
Wales is a member of IFAB, the game’s law making body.
Fifa and the UK-based associations (English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs) can propose matters to be discussed and ratified at the annual general meeting (AGM), which usually takes place in February or March.
Chelsea player Diego Costa was fined 2,000 euros for revealing his shirt that showed the message “Totoca Forever” as he celebrated scoring a goal against Espanyol while still with Athletico Madrid.
Costa said he was dedicating the goal to a friend who had died in an accident but it was not enough defence.
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